Hearing Aids

Hearing aids can be helpful to far more people than actually have them.  Since the introduction of digital hearing aids in the late 1990s, hearing aids work extremely well for patients.  Patients who can benefit from hearing aids include those who have tinnitus (ear ringing), poor clarity in certain listening environments and frequent misunderstanding of family/friends.  Review of an audiogram (hearing test) will help determine the degree of hearing loss and allow us to recommend hearing aids if appropriate.  In some cases, surgery on the ear can be performed to improve hearing and prevent the need for a hearing aid.

Traditional Digital Hearing Aids

High Frequency (Mini-BTE) Hearing Aid
A High Frequency (or Mini-Behind-The-Ear) hearing aid is the most common type of hearing aid recommended.  The majority of hearing loss occurs from aging (also known as presbycusis) or from noise-induced ear trauma, which results in a high frequency loss pattern.  This impairs speech clarity without significantly affecting volume.  Tinnitus (ear ringing) is also a common symptom, especially if the hearing loss is significant.  This type of hearing aid markedly improves speech clarity and typically reduces tinnitus perception.

Completely-In-Canal (CIC) Hearing Aids
These are the smallest hearing aids available.  They are custom fit to sit comfortably in the ear canal and are minimally noticeable.  The advantages of this style of aid is usefulness with the telephone.  The disadvantages can be their lack of power.  As a general rule of thumb: the larger the aid, the more it can amplify sound.  Patients with a significant amount of hearing loss may not be the best candidate for this style of aid.

In-The-Canal (ITC) Hearing Aid
"Half-Shell" In-The-Canal (ITC) hearing aids are less visible than In-The-Ear Hearing Aids. ITC’s take advantage of the ear’s natural shape and are very small and lightweight. The hearing aid is molded to the inner canal so that the sound is naturally funneled through the hearing aid.

In-The-Ear (ITE) Hearing Aid
"Full Shell" In-the-Ear (ITE) hearing aids are made to fill the outer part of your ear. They have no external wires or tubes, and are very light in weight. An impression is made of your ear, and the entire hearing aid is encased in this shell.

Behind-The-Ear (BTE) Hearing Aid
This traditional-style aid sits comfortably behind the ear.  The sound receiver sits at the top of the aid and is amplified based on digital programming in the aid hidden behind your ear.  Amplified sound is then transmitted through clear tubing into the ear canal, where it then vibrates the ear drum.  Advantages of this type of aid are substantial power, ease of adjustments and improved longevity.  A disadvantage can be telephone use, since the receiver sits higher than the ear canal.  As a general rule, we find BTE styles of hearing aids have superior performance for those with substantial hearing loss patterns.

CROS Hearing Aid
This type of aid is very useful for patients who have lost all hearing in one ear and have a hearing loss in their opposite, only hearing ear.  The CROS (contralateral routing of signal) aid sits in the deaf ear and sends sound to the better hearing aid.  The BiCROS allows the better ear to receive the sound where it is digitally amplified to the needs of the only hearing ear.  Advantages of this hearing system are restored sound awareness from the deaf side and improved clarity in the hearing side.

Surgically Implanted Hearing Devices

Cochlear Implant
A cochlear implant is very different from a traditional hearing aid.  A series of wire electrodes are inserted into the inner ear (cochlea) that directly electrically stimulate the hearing nerve to send sound signals to the brain.  This type of hearing device bypasses the ear canal, ear drum and middle ear structures that usually mechanically stimulate the inner ear hair cells, which normally send signals to the hearing nerve.  An external hearing device that looks much like a BTE hearing aid is used to pick up external sounds. 

BAHA
The BAHA (Bone Anchored Hearing Aid) is useful for patients who are completely deaf in one ear and have good hearing in the opposite ear.  It works by transmitting vibration sound signals through the skull from the deaf side to the normal side.  Its advantage is the need to only wear one hearing device.  Some disadvantages include infections around the implant, unfavorable cosmetic appearance and inability to know where sound is coming from.